Negative Consequences of Overscheduling
Feeling pressured by too much to do and not enough hours to do it all in has negative consequences not only on your own health, but also on the health of your marriage, the health of your family, the health and well being of your community, and the well being of the environment for everyone.Trying to accomplish too much takes its toll by creating more stress, increased lack of sleep, less time for exercise, more accidents and injuries, poor eating habits, and decreased amounts of time for family, hobbies, community, spirituality, nature, and political action.
Hopefully, with an increased awareness of the price that you pay for overscheduling your life, you will take back your time more often than once a year!
How to Create a More Balanced Life
- Set aside at least one night per week to read, or to play a board or card game with your family.
- Make sure your family has at least one major meal together each week. Prepare the meal together, and do the clean up afterwards together as a family, too.
- Ask yourself how many newspapers you read each day, and cut that number by half.
- Determine what the two of you value, and decide how you can live out those values in your marriage.
- Sleep in now and then.
- Cancel something once in a while. This includes your children's schedule. Their lives could be overscheduled too.
- Take regular walks.
- Spend time in your garden, or on house plants.
- Visit friends and extended family more often.
- Schedule mini (one or two day) get-a-ways throughout the year.
